Parents as Teachers
January 2020
New Year, New Goals
Happy New Year and welcome to 2020! We hope you enjoyed some family time together, and maybe some goal setting for the new year. This is often the time of year many of us may think about our current goals for our families. Goal-setting is something we plan and revisit frequently with families on home visits. Breaking down goals into smaller, more manageable steps can be helpful in achieving success with that bigger goal. These smaller steps can give you a feeling of control and positive action towards the current goal, and then continuing in that positive direction to set the next step. Our “What’s on Your Mind?” parent handout, gives some positive prompts to encourage exploring a goal or topic that might be important to you:
- In the future, I…
- I’d really like to…
- I’m facing…
- My biggest worry is…
- It is challenging when I…
- I wish…
- Five years from now…
If one of these prompts gave you something you’d like to create a goal about, let your parent educator know on your next visit. We’re always happy to follow up with you, provide any resources, and always encourage you along the way!
As we discuss setting goals for our families, we’d like to also share with you one of our own program goals for this year. Each of you bring your own family influences and culture to each of our visits, and we love learning more about our families and building those relationships. All of us come with our own perspectives, and all of this impacts our parenting decisions. Our parent educators have been training with the co-founders of We Stories, an amazing literacy curriculum. They encourage families in the St. Louis area to discuss race and diversity openly, as well as honestly, all while sharing multicultural books. Our hope is that you and your families will reap the benefits of this program through establishing an inclusive community, as well as the ability to initiate and strengthen family conversations through literacy. Reading diverse books with children is an effective tool in starting these conversations and providing children with a window into other people’s lives and experiences. Throughout our visits this year, you will see us bring a few new books into your home. If you’d like more information, or a book list for your own home, please let your parent educator know.
Here’s a few books that you may see on your next visit:
Parent Group: Joint Attention
**Dinner and childcare are provided for those who RSVP
Where: Barfield Early Childhood Center
BEC 2025 Hanley Rd. Dardenne Prairie, MO 63368
When: Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Time: 5:45-7:00 DINNER available 5:15-5:45
Toddler Town
Wentzville Parents as Teachers is partnering with all three area high schools to offer an exciting morning of play for you and your family! You and your child will get to choose where to shop and spend your morning in our Toddler Town. There are so many places to stop and see. You could shop at our grocery store, spend time reading at the library, mail packages at the post office, build at the construction site, and even more exciting spaces in town!
Location: Timberland High School
Address: 559 East Hwy N, Wentzville, MO 63385
Date: Saturday, January 11, 2020
Time: 10:00am - 11:30am
Naomi Faith Dohr Scholarship
Stay & Play: Winter Wonderland
Please RSVP by Friday, January 17, 2020.
Location: Wentzville School District Berrey Place Center
Address: 1 Campus Drive, Wentzville, MO 63385
Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Time: 9:00-10:00am OR 6:00-7:00pm
Baby Bunch
Please RSVP using this link
When: January 27, 2020
Time: 9:00AM-10:00AM OR 6:00PM-7:00PM
Location: Berrey Place Center
1 Campus Drive, Wentzville, MO 63385
Kindergarten Registration
The Board of Education met in December and approved new boundaries for the elementary schools. The WSD newsletter and the WSD website provide additional information regarding the boundaries.
LittleBits Gym
Parents, take advantage of this special time with your little one to have some fun at the gym. Join Parents as Teachers at Little Bits Gym in the Meadows.
Parent Group: Behavior Strategies
Stay & Play: Honk, Honk, Beep, Beep
Trains, planes and automobiles get us where we want to go. Come enjoy these transportation based activities designed to help your child get where they need to be!
Parents as Teachers
Website: www.wentzville.k12.mo.us/domain/79
Location: 1 Campus Drive
Phone: 636-327-3863
Twitter: @WentzvillePAT